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Considering the lobster

As temperatures jumped into the upper 20s on Jan. 17, a small crowd gathered and cars slowed while passing by 2777 16th St. NW in New Brighton to see the Bartz brothers’ latest creation.

Each year — this is the seventh — brothers Connor, Trevor and Austin Bartz create a sea creature out of snow in their front yard. The 19-foot-tall, solid-snow lobster, named “Diggs” after Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs and his recent heroics, will be lit for viewing until around 11 p.m. each night.

According to the brothers, this year’s sculpture almost didn’t happen for lack of snow. A timely snowfall and help from Aspen Outdoor Services and the City of New Brighton, in the form of a couple dumptrucks full of snow, made Diggs the lobster possible.

The brothers collect donations and turn over 100 percent of the proceeds to the nonprofit One Day’s Wages, which works to empower people to gain access to clean water and sanitation education. Last year, the brothers raised $25,000, and are trying to do the same this year. There is a donation box near the sculpture or you can donate online at http://give.onedayswages.org/bartzbrothers.